Lantau Island

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Map of Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Lantau Island (based on the local old name of Lantau Peak 爛頭 Làntóu, Ragged Head; 大嶼山/大屿山 pinyin: Dàyǔ shān, Cantonese: Tai yue shan, Big Island Mountain), also Lantao, is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District, but a small part in the northeast of the island belongs to Tsuen Wan District. It has an area of 146.38 km². Originally the site of sleepy fishing villages, the island has in recent years been transformed with the development of several major infrastructure projects, including Hong Kong's new international airport and Hong Kong Disneyland.

1 History
2 Geographical characteristics
3 Population
4 Tourist attractions
5 Miscellaneous
6 Transport
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] History

Artefacts unearthed on the island show human activities dated back to the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age. For instance, rock carvings at Shek Pik are thought to date back to the Bronze Age, while a stone circle at Fan Lau is probably from the Neolithic Age. Both sites are located on the southwestern coast of the island.

The island was known as Tai Hai Shan (大奚山) in the distant past. It was often shown in navigation map because of its proximity to major sea route in South China.

In 1276, the Southern Song Dynasty court fled to Guangdong by boat, fleeing Mongol invaders, and leaving the emperor Gong Di behind. Any hope of resistance centred on two young princes, Gong Di's brothers. The older boy, Zhao Shi, aged nine was declared emperor, and, in 1277, the imperial court sought refuge first in Silvermine Bay (Mui Wo) on Lantau Island and later in today's Kowloon City (see Sung Wong Toi). The older brother became ill and died, and was succeeded by the younger, Zhao Bing, aged seven. He died in 1279, and the Song Dynasty ended. These emperors are also believed to have held court in the Tung Chung valley, which takes its name from a local hero who gave up his life for the emperor.

Salt was illegally produced in Lantau island. This was discovered by the Chinese rulers during the 16th century, and the local warlord put many islanders to death as a result.

Like Cheung Chau, Lantau was once the base for pirates and smugglers, and was one of the bases of Cheung Po Tsai in the 19th century.

Lantau Island, together with Tuen Mun were among the first European trading settlements in the Pearl River area, established by Portuguese traders in the 1510s. The Portuguese abandoned these settlements around 1517, following defeat against Chinese troops (see Fernao Pires de Andrade). Later, the island became an important trading post for the British, long before they showed an interest for Hong Kong Island.

Silver was mined at Mui Wo until the 19th century.

Lantau was a major site of resistance against the Japanese during the second world war. The resistance movement made use of the island's wooded areas, and deep valleys in order to organize ambushes and move supplies. The resistance movement gained a reputation for toughness, and they persevered through the war until the defeat of the Japanese invaders in 1945.

A major change affected the island in July 1998, with the start of operations of Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.

In 2000, Lantau Island was also an important base for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe project and the Asia-Pacific Cable Network which bridges the internet with the rest of the world.

[edit] Geographical characteristics

Lantau Island consists of mainly mountainous terrain. With an area of approx. 146 km², it is the largest island in Hong Kong, and is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island. Lantau Peak (934 m) is the highest point of the island. It is the second highest in Hong Kong, after Tai Mo Shan, and is almost double the height of Victoria Peak. Lantau Island is often referred to as "the lungs of Hong Kong", because of its abundance of indigenous forest and relative scarcity of high-rise residential developments which characterise Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

[edit] Population

Lantau Island has a relatively low population density, with 45,000 people living there, compared to 1.4 million on Hong Kong Island. Settlements are scattered all over the island and each has its own distinctive characteristic. The completion of the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok in 1998 has irrevocably changed north-western Lantau; the once quiet village of Tung Chung is now a new town, home to over 25,000 people in a number of 30 to 50 storey high-rise housing estates and condominiums located right next to the airport. Over the next few years, the population of the North Lantau New Town, on reclaimed land stretching from Tung Chung to Tai Ho is expected to increase to a target population of over 200,000, across 7.6 km² of land.

Discovery Bay is a privately owned residential development located on the north-eastern coast of Lantau. It has a current population of around 14,300 residents from over 30 different countries - gaining it a reputation as an expatriate enclave. The first phase went on sale in 1982.

[edit] Tourist attractions

On Ngong Ping Plateau, where the Tian Tan Buddha (or "Giant Buddha"), an 85-foot-high bronze Buddha statue, various monastery buildings and a vegetarian restaurant can be found. Walkers can ascend from Tung Chung to the monastery in two hours.

Tai O is a fishing town located in the northwest of Lantau Island and more than three centuries old. Tourists visit Tai O for its several hundred stilt houses, though many of those houses were damaged in a fire in July 2000. Tai O retains most of its historical setting such as waterways, stilt houses and fishing boats and it is famous for its fishing village scenery. Traditional Chinese food like salted fish and shrimp paste - locally produced - can be found there.

Tung Chung Fort was built in 1817 to thwart the opium trade and defend the coast from pirates. There are 6 old cannons and the enclosures are made of granite. During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the fort. In 1979, it was listed as one of the historical monuments and was refurbished in 1988. The ruins of the Tung Chung Battery, also a historical monument, are located nearby.

The Trappist Haven Monastery at Tai Shui Hang, home to a number of Roman Catholic monks, sits on the east coast of Lantau Island, approximately halfway between the towns of Mui Wo and Discovery Bay. The Lantau Trappist congregation was established in Beijing in the 19th century.

Hong Kong Disneyland lies on the northeastern part of the island, approximately two kilometres from Discovery Bay and opened on 12 September 2005, on a massive land reclamation project in Penny's Bay. The US$1.8 billion project includes a Disney theme park, two hotels and retail, dining and entertainment facilities stretching over 1.26 km² (310 acres); as well as its own rail network linking from Yam O.

Over 50% of Lantau consists of national parks, including a large number of well-marked trails. The best known of these is the 70 kilometre, 12 section Lantau Trail. The national parks feature campsites and youth hostels. Lantau's best-known and longest beach is Cheung Sha and its most famous hike is to Sunset Peak, the third highest elevation in Hong Kong.

[edit] Miscellaneous

Chinese White Dolphins, often called pink dolphins can be seen off the coast of Lantau. A marine park north of the island was designated to protect them.

Shek Pik Reservoir is the fourth largest freshwater reservoir in Hong Kong. Completed in 1963, it covers an area of 1.01 km² and has a capacity of 24.5 x 10⁶ m³.

There are six prisons on Lantau Island: Chi Ma Wan Correctional Institution, Chi Sun Correctional Institution (formerly the Chi Ma Wan Drug Addiction Treatment Centre), Ma Mo Ping Prison, Tong Fuk centre west of Tong Fuk, Sha Tsui Detention Centre and the maximum security Shek Pik Prison, both located near Shek Pik reservoir. Plans are being made by the government to centralize such facilities into the island of Hei Ling Chau, to be connected by a bridge to Mui Wo. However, this plan is being met with resistance by local residents.

[edit] Transport

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG/HKIA) is located on Chek Lap Kok island and started service in July 1998. It is located off the north coast of Lantau, near the new town of Tung Chung and is connected to urban areas by the Lantau Link, which is composed of the Kap Shui Mun Bridge, the Ma Wan Viaduct, and the Tsing Ma Bridge.

The airport also has a metro connection to the rest of Hong Kong via the MTR's airport line - the Airport Express - together with several bus routes. Using the Airport Express, the journey time between Central, Hong Kong's business district, and Chep Lap Kok airport is 23 minutes. In addition, one can reach Tung Chung by train on the Tung Chung line of the MTR and there is also a branch line to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Trains are frequent.

MTR route map in the Lantau Island area

Tourists can get to Lantau using ferry services provided by New World First Ferry; a ferry service is available between Mui Wo and Central, transportation time is about 30 or 50 minutes, depending on the vessel. A 24-hour ferry service operated by HKR International Limited connects Pier 3 in Central to Discovery Bay; transportation time is 25 minutes.

There are also several smaller inter-island ferry services linking neighbouring islands and the mainland. These ferries, known locally as kai-tos (pronounced Guy-doe) provide scheduled services. These include Nim Shue Wan (TC:稔樹灣) (adjacent to Discovery Bay, and Peng Chau Island with a stopover at the Trappist Haven Monastery on Lantau, Nim Shue Wan and Mui Wo on Lantau. Other Kai-To and ferry services link Peng Chau, Mui Wo Lantau, Chi Ma Wan Lantau, and Cheung Chau Island, and another links Tuen Mun, Tung Chung, Sha Lo Wan, and Tai O.

One can also travel by walla walla, a traditional water taxi, typically from nearby Cheung Chau Island.

Residents and tourists can travel within Lantau Island either by taxi or bus. The New Lantao Bus provides major bus services within the island, where you can get to Tai O and Po Lin Monastery from Mui Wo pier.

In Hong Kong, there are three types of taxis. Red taxis serve the urban areas, green taxis serve the New Territories while taxis on Lantau Island are blue in colour. All three taxi services can ply for passengers at the Airport and Tung Chung, but only the blue taxis can take passengers to other locations on Lantau Island. There are 50 blue taxis serving the Lantau Island area.

The Ngong Ping Skyrail, a gondola lift, is located on Lantau and is operated by the MTR. Opened in mid-September 2006, this provides a visually stunning 5.7 km 20 minute gondola cableway journey between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping.